Introduction to Spreadsheets and Models

Introduction to Spreadsheets and Models

Introduction to Spreadsheets and Models

University of Pennsylvania

About this course: The simple spreadsheet is one of the most powerful data analysis tools that exists, and it’s available to almost anyone. Major corporations and small businesses alike use spreadsheet models to determine where key measures of their success are now, and where they are likely to be in the future. But in order to get the most out of a spreadsheet, you have know how to use it. This course is designed to give you an introduction to basic spreadsheet tools and formulas so that you can begin harness the power of spreadsheets to map the data you have now and to predict the data you may have in the future. Through short, easy-to-follow demonstrations, you’ll learn how to use Excel or Sheets so that you can begin to build models and decision trees in future courses in this Specialization.
Basic familiarity with, and access to, Excel or Sheets is required.

This module was designed to introduce you to the history of spreadsheets, their basic capabilities, and how they can be used to create models. You'll learn the different types of data used in spreadsheets, spreadsheet notations for mathematical operations, common built-in formulas and functions, conditional expressions, relative and absolute references, and how to identify and correct circular references. By the end of this module, you'll understand the context of spreadsheets, be able to navigate a spreadsheet, use built-in formulas and functions in spreadsheets, create your own simple formulas, and identify and correct common errors so you can put spreadsheets to work for you.

6 videos, 2 readings

Video: 1.1 Objectives and a little spreadsheet history

Video: 1.2 Navigating a spreadsheet and crafting formulas

Video: 1.3 Using functions

Video: 1.4 Using conditional expressions in formulas

Video: 1.5 Common errors in spreadsheets

Video: 1.6 Differences between Sheets and Excel

Reading: PDF of Module 1 Lecture Slides

Reading: Module 1 examples

Graded: Module 1 Quiz: History, Formulas, Functions and Errors

WEEK 2

From Spreadsheet to Model

In this module, you'll move from spreadsheet to model, so you can begin to create your own models that reflect real-world events. You'll learn how to organize and lay out model elements, as well as the types of objective functions and their use. You'll also learn what-if analysis and scenarios, sensitivity analysis, and other classic models. By the end of this module, you'll be able to design a spreadsheet reflecting assumptions, decision variables, and outcomes, create a basic cashflow model, evaluate a small business opportunity, conduct what-if analysis, identify key variables using sensitivity analysis, and linear programming models and deterministic models.

6 videos, 2 readings

Video: 2.0 Module Introduction

Video: 2.1 Using assumptions and decision variables in spreadsheet models

This module was designed to introduce you to how you can use spreadsheets to address uncertainty and probability. You'll learn about random variables, probability distributions, power, exponential, and log functions in model formulas, models for calculating probability trees and decision trees, how to use regression tools to make predictions, as well as multiple regression. By the end of this module, you'll be able to measure correlations between variables using spreadsheet statistical functions, understand the results of functions that calculate correlations, use regression tools to make predictions, and improve forecasts with multiple regression.

6 videos, 3 readings

Video: 3.0 Introduction

Video: 3.1 Random variables and probability distributions

Video: 3.2 Changes in discrete and continuous time

Video: 3.3 Power, exponential, and log functions

Video: 3.4 Probability trees and decision trees

Video: 3.5 Correlation and Regression

Reading: PDF of Module 3 Lecture Slides

Reading: Module 3 examples

Reading: Additional reading on exponential and other functions

Graded: Module 3 Quiz: Probability, Correlation, and Regression

WEEK 4

Simulation and Optimization

In this module, you'll learn to use spreadsheets to implement Monte Carlo simulations as well as linear programs for optimization. You'll examine the purpose of Monte Carlo simulations, how to implement Monte Carlo simulations in spreadsheets, the types of problems you can address with linear programs and how to implement those linear programs in spreadsheets. By the end of this module, you'll be able to model uncertainty and risk in spreadsheets, and use Excel's solver to optimize resources to reach a desired outcome. You'll also be able to identify the similarities and differences between Excel and Sheets, and be prepared for the next course in the Business and Financial Modeling Specialization.

4 videos, 3 readings

Video: 4.0 Introduction

Video: 4.1 Monte Carlo Simulations

Video: 4.2 Linear Programming

Video: 4.3 Next Steps, and Differences between Excel and Sheets

Reading: PDF of Module 4 Lecture Slides

Reading: Module 4 examples

Reading: Links and other resources for further study

Graded: Module 4 Quiz: Simulations, Scenarios, and Optimization

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University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn) is a private university, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. A member of the Ivy League, Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and considers itself to be the first university in the United States with both undergraduate and graduate studies.

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Ratings and Reviews

Rated 4.2 out of 5 of 1,065 ratings

Good course, but maybe too compressed and with scarce examples in excel as well as in slides

Sometimes not clear enough.

BH

So many tools that I knew existed and have tried to use the How-To's to learn how they work and until the Prof takes you through them one-at-a-time, they never make sense. Great Stuff!